Paph venustum and Miltassia Shelob 'Tolkien' guideance requested

[jburd]

For my birthday I got two awesome new orchids! The first is a Paph. venustum and the second is a Miltassia Shelob 'Tolkien'! I've only had Phals before so I am really excited to finally be branching out!!!

The Tolkien is BIG!! Over a foot tall already. Some of the reading I've done says I should treat it like a Brassia and others say Miltonia. The dude at the greenhouse said that if it's a "beefy" plant that's hard to kill, but I'm still unclear on how to care for it exactly.

On the paph I'm finding some seriously contradictory stuff! One book says that P. venustum likes a little more sun, a little more warmth, a little more water, and no companions to shade it out . . . the other book says this paph likes more shade, cooler temperatures, and less water . So I turn to the internet, but all I found was oodles more contradictory info.

Anyway, I thought I'd turn to the orchid experts! Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[coeruleo]

the shelob is easy to grow. not too fussy. grows like an oncidium. bright light, like in a south facing window (but not in direct sun). i have mine in a south facing window, and it gets very bright light. i have thin material for drapes, and the center panel is actually shadecloth, so the plants get some sun, but not direct sun in winter, in the summer no direct sun, just very bright light. likes fine bark mixes, and i water twice a week in warm weather. regular household temperatures, no heat or ac running. takes 45ish to the 90's pretty well so far. putting out spikes 4 and 5 for this year now. check out how folks grow oncidiums in your area as treatment can vary by climate, and basically follow suit. they are pretty forgiving plants. they can get bushy in a few years.

[jburd]

cool! thanks coeruleo! You mentioned it gets 'bushy' . . . the greenhouse guy also said i should keep up-potting so it will eventually bloom yearlong, but he added, "If you have the space." It kind of took me off guard. Now I'm wondering how much space this beasty will take over . . . is it going to replace my christmas tree? lol

[Alice]

I have my paph venustum for a little more than half a year. It received maybe as much or a little less light than all of my phalaenopsis. It grew two new leaves for me and they are more light-colored than the previous ones. Ive read somewhere that more shade will let the leaves have more intense color.
I was told by the vendor to never let the substrate completely dry out. Usually I water it when the bark in the middle of the pot approaches dryness.
Good luck with growing your new plants.